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It doesn’t seem like 20 years since Ford launched the Focus but in truth Henry’s Escort replacement is part of the scenery in the UK, where it has hovered in the top-five best seller list for the last two decades. As well as sales of 1.97 million here, it’s done alright in the rest of the world, too – 16 million have found homes globally, with even the Pope having used one at times.

So now we get Mark IV version. Visibly bigger (though we’re to come back to that), 50kg lighter, 10 per cent more economical, and cheaper, this new vision of family motoring was launched in what is, with the possible exception of the Goodwin Sands, the least car-friendly site in the UK. ‘Here East’ in the Olympic Park in East London does at least partially fulfill Ford’s global ambitions to be a modern digital mobility company, but beyond that the choice was baffling.

The Focus has been one of Britain's most popular cars since its introduction two decades ago

“It’s a unique space for entrepreneurs, tech specialists, businesses and academics to come together in pursuit of new ideas,” waffled Steven Armstrong, president of Ford of Europe. “We’ve chosen this place to locate our Ford Smart Mobility Innovation Office.”

He was followed by several more Blue Oval grand panjandrums, not one of which could bring themselves to mention the actual car until eventually Joe Bakaj, head of European product development, called the launch to order and explained that while the new Focus looks bigger, it’s actually about the same size as the outgoing model.

New Focus is also a very rare thing; a virtually all-new, non-premium car. Fierce competition in these workaday segments means companies often have to adopt carryover parts, drivetrains and sometimes even doors and windows to make 'new' models economical. Not so the Focus, which is a fresh machine from bumper to bumper.

The estate derivative seems well proportioned

Bakaj also claims that Focus Four is also as good to drive, though we’d like to try that for ourselves. Even the engines (a 1.0-litre and 1.5 litre petrol, and a 1.5-litre diesel) are uprated and given automatic stop-start and cylinder deactivation systems to save fuel, and there’s a new eight-speed automatic transmission option.

The cabin looks much nicer than the outgoing model and thanks to a longer wheelbase (length is increased by 18mm, the wheelbase by 53mm), there’s more space in there as well. Ford has changed the seat backs in the rear, given it more headroom and made the floor flatter so that even the Sasquatch can get its feet under the rear seats. There’s more connectivity and the option of adaptive cruise control amongst other goodies.

“I really like that feature,” says Bakaj, “you can set it up with the road-sign recognition so it will never be more than a certain amount above the speed limit and it’ll cruise right down to a stop and start again in traffic. And it’s got road-edge detection, which is great for the UK where not all the roads have a white line at the side.”

Expect an adventure-themed model in the not-too-distant futureCredit:
Hasselblad H5D

It’s on sale in August and prices have moved in the right direction, too. Starting at £17,930 for the base Style model, that’s £2,300 cheaper than the equivalent outgoing starter model. The Zetec is £850 cheaper and the ST-Line is £250 cheaper, with the top-of-the-range Vignale starting at £25,450. There’s a raised ride height ‘Active’ version planned, with anti-scrabble traction control, plastic cladding for the wheel arches and off-road pretentions to boot.

With a longer bonnet and stubbier hatch it’s a good looking thing, too. The ST-Line is the pick of the bunch, but even the estate looks cool and spacious. Britain’s road scenery just got a bit more attractive.

We’ll be reporting on whether Bakaj’s men and women have managed to keep Focus’s legendary ride and handling compromise in July.